Advertising cigar-cutter



{No Model.)

G. W. MELVILLE; ADVERTISING CIGAR CUTTER.

Patented Jan; 7, 1896.

Fig. 6

Witnesses Attys.

ANDREW EGRAHAM. PHOYO-UTNO. WASNINGTOILDI NITED STAT S ATENT Prion,

- GEORGE \YILSON MELVILLE, OF OAK PARK, ASSIGNOR TO THE INVENTORS MANUFACTURING AND TRADING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ADVERTISING CIGAR-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,645, dated January *7, 1896.

Application filed May 28, 1895. 'Serial No. 550,967. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE \VILSON MEL- VILLE, a subject of the Queen of Great Fritain, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Advertising Cigar-Cutters, which are fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure -1 represents a side elevation of a cigar-cutter embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the outer and inner cases with the devices inclosed therein in full lines; Fig. 3, a plan section of the complete device, and Fig. 4 a detail vertical section of the lower portion of the device.

The invention relates to a case-like structure of comparatively small size, adapted to be set upon a table, counter, or any other suitable support, and movable at will from one location to another. The main features are an upright case or body of thin metal, closed at top and bottom and at side about half the distance to the top, the remainder of the case above this closed section being one-half cut away, as indicated in Fig. 1; one or two apertures in the lower part of the case, adapted to receive the tip end of cigars of diiferent sizes; an angular lever fixed on a horizontal shaft inside the lower part of the case, with one arm projecting out through an opening near the bottom thereof, and at the other end carrying a small notched plate, and connected to a retracting-spring adapted to throw it outward and so turn the short shaft at the bottom; an upright knife set on the outer end of the lever-shaft and arranged to swing across the cigar opening or openings on the inside of the case, and an interior casing, closed at its upper end but open at the bottom, arranged within the upper half-section of the outer case, extending down a little below the notched plate on the lever, and fixed on a vertical revoluble shaft journaled inside of the main casing and provided with a pinion with which the notched plate engages. This inner case is divided into sections by lines of different colors, or any other suitable method, each section being intended for an advertisement, several of which will be exposed at the opening produced by dispering upward. The lower portion of this casing consists of a bottom a and a side a, preferably of circular form, and is closed, except a small opening a at one side near the upper edge or boundary of this section, and two openings a a about a quarter of the circumference from the opening a and one larger than the other. The upper portion of this outer case or body a is continued on the same line as the lower division a, but is only onehalf of the circular body which would be produced if said lower division were extended upward complete-that is, this upper section is reduced by dispensing with one-half of the casing taken on a vertical diametrical plane, this semicircular section being indicated by a in the drawings. On the upper end of this half-section there is fixed a cap B, of conelike shape and constructed at its lower edge with a flange 1), adapted to set inside the semicircular top of the casing. The lower edge I) is curved after the general contour of the cap and passes down on the outside of the up per edge of the casing, standing out there from to provide a free space between the two, as seen in Fig. 2. This cap is constructed with a central section 19 of circular contour both horizontally and vertically. At the center of this section there is a slight enlarge ment, which is provided with an interior socket b intended for use as a journal-seat, as will presently be described. An upright shaft C is mounted centrally inside of this casing, the lower end being journaled in the bottom a, of the casing and the upper end in the central recess inside the top of the cap B. This shaft is left perfectly free to turn in either direction. A supplemental casing D is mounted on this shaft inside of the main casing. This casing is of complete circular form corresponding to the interior of the main-casing upper section so far as the latter extends. It is open at the bottom, but closed at the top with a cover d, made in one piece with the casing. This cover has a central aperture d, by means of which it is slipped upon the upper end of the shaft and passes down just below the inner flange of the cap B, where it is stopped by a collar 0 secured to the shaft in any suitable way. The outer side surface of this inner case is divided into lengthwise sections by lines of paint, or in any other suitable way, these divisions being of considerable less width than the half-opening of the upper section, so that several of them may be exposed at said opening at the same time. These divisions on the inside case are intended for advertising purposes, and advertisements of any description may be applied by painting them thereon in any way desired, the paints on the different sections being preferably of different colors. Of course each division is intended for a separate and distinct advertisement.

As stated above, the shaft is freely revoluble in its bearings, and obviously, if a suitable actuating mechanism is provided, it may be turned in different directions to expose these advertisements at the open side of the outer case. As shown in the drawings, this mechanism consists of a small gear-pinion E, fixed on the shaft, preferably just within the lower end of the inner casing, as seen in Fig. 2. This pinion, as shown in the drawings, is an ordinary toothed gear, the teeth 6 running vertically or lengthwise of the shaft.

An angular leverF is fixed on a short horizontal shaft G, journaled in bearings on the bottom of the outer case. The outer arm f of this lever extends out through the side opening and is preferably provided with a small button on the end just outside of the case. The inner arm f extends upward and, in normal position of rest, is held outward in a slightly-inclined position with reference to the upright central shaft. The arm f is provided at its upper end with a small plate II, projecting inward therefrom and notched at its inner edge to provide teeth h. The lever is so arranged in relation to the upright shaft that, when thrown backward to a position of rest, the notched plate will be carried beyond and out of contact with the small gear. The short horizontal shaft G, to which the lever F is attached, is journaled in bearings g g fixed on the bottom of the main casing and arranged so that the said shaft passes the upright shaft near the lower end thereof and close to it. These bearings are something like lugs or short arms, rising a short distance from the case bottom, and the outer one, g, is close to the casing, while the inner one, 9, is on the other side of the upright shaft and about midway between it and the side of the casing. The former is provided with a cap g and the latter with a similar cap g secured in the usual way to the lower fixed studs and themselves forming a part of the bearings. The short horizontal shaft G journaled in these bearings may be provided near each end with a narrow flange g" at the outer and g at the inner end, fixed on the shaft and at a distance apart corresponding to the distance between the said two bearings, so that, when mounted as described above, this shaft will be held against lengthwise movement. If desired, however, one of these flanges may be dispensed with, in which case a spring-coil J is placed upon the shaft, being of such length as to fill the space between the lever F, fixed thereon, and the flange at the end of the shaft, this springcoil being so constructed that it will always be under tension in this arrangement, and so will hold the shaft against lengthwise movement with reasonable permanence. A spring I is also provided for retracting the lever F, this spring, as shown in the drawings, being a coil secured at its upper end to the arm f of the lever, near its extremity, and extending thence downward and outward to the bottom of the casing, where it is fastened to the latter. The parts are constructed and arranged so that, normally, this spring will react on the lever to swing it out far enough to completely disconnect the notched plate thereon from the small gearpinion 011 the upright shaft, and the latter then stands at rest.

A knife-blade K is fixed on the outer end of the horizontal shaft and is extended upward therefrom in a direction about parallel with that of the lever-armf. The openings a ct for the tips of cigars are arranged with reference to this knife or cutting-blade so that the latter stands at one side thereof, when in normal position of rest, such as indicated in Fig. 2; but when the lever F is turned by depressing the outer arm thereof this knife will be moved across the said cigar-apertures inside of the case and will sever the projecting cigar ends, thereby preparing the cigars for use by cutting off the tips, and so this device is adapted for use as a cigar-cutter, the two apertures being of different size, as stated, for the purpose of accommodating differentsized cigars. \Vith this movement of the short horizontal shaft and the knife fixed thereon the toothed plate on the upper end of the lever-arm f is brought into engagement with the small pinion fixed on the upright shaft and of course will impart a rotary movement to said shaft. This movement of the upright shaft will carry the inner or advertising case with it, and thereby the advertisements on the different divisions of the latter will be changed from their position of rest and different sets exposed at the open side of the outer case. The device therefore becomes an advertising medium which is changed with every clip of a cigar, or for that matter this result maybe obtained even if no cigar is inserted in the clipping-aperture. As soon as the cigar-tip is severed, as described above,

the end of the outer arm of the lever F being released from pressure,the retracting-spring connected to said lever will come at once into action and will return the lever to its normal position of rest, which movement must of course rotate the upright shaft in a direction opposite, or the reverse of that effected by the depression of the said outer arm of this lever, described above. If the lever is left entirely to the action of this retracting-sprin g, it will impart quite an impetus to the upright shaft by this return movement, and the rotation of the latter will continue a little while after the two gearing devices are entirely disconnected, so that the interior advertisingcase will come to rest in varying positions. Preferably a stop L is set upon the bottom of the case under the outer arm of the lever F. This stop is rubber, or some other elastic substance, and located so that the outer arm of the lever will come in contact with it just before it reaches the bottom of the aperture in the side of the case through which it projects. This is to relieve the force of the lever in striking the bottom of the aperture, in which it plays, when quickly pressed down.

The operation of the completestructure will be readily understood from the description above, for it has been substantially described step by step in connection with the descrip tion of the construction and arrangement of the specific devices, and therefore a separate statement of such operation need not be repeated here.

It will be understood that there may be mechanical variations in the construction of some of the particular devices shown and described, and in their relative arrangement or organization in the completed device without dispensing with the controlling features of the invention; and such changes are contemplated in the manufacture of this device for practical use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an advertising cigar-cutter, a main body or casing, the lower portion of which is entire except side apertures for a cigar tip and outer end of actuating lever, and the upper portion cut away one-half vertically,

an upright shaft mounted centrally within said casing, a supplemental easing corresponding in length to the upper section of the main casing, fixed on said shaft, closed at the top and open at the bottom, and advertising spaces marked out on its outer surface, and mechanism arranged within the lower portion of the main casing, whereby the tip end of the cigar is cut off just within the casing and at the same time the shaft with supplemental casing thereon will be rotated to expose different advertisements at the wide open space in the upper section of the main easing, substantially as described.

2. In an advertising cigar-cutter, a main body or casing, A., consisting of closed lower section, a., provided with an opening, at, at

one side to accommodate a lever, and a small opening, a for the tip end of a cigar, and an upper semi-circular section, a., an upright shaft, (3., journaled in the top and bottom of the said case and provided with a small gear pinion, E., fixed thereon, a supplemental casing, D., corresponding in length to the semicircular section of the main casing and having its exterior divided, by suitable marking lines, to form distinctly bounded spaces thereon, an angular lever, F., journaled within the lower portion of the casing and having one arm extending out through the lever opening therein and the other arm extending upward near the upright shaft, a toothed plate, ll,

fixed on the outer end of said upright arm and arranged to engage with the pinion on the upright shaft, a knife or cutter arranged just inside the cigar opening in the lower portion of the case A. and connected with the le ver to swing across said opening inside the casing in unison with the inner arm of the lever, and a retracting spring connected at one end with the inner arm of. the lever to return it to normal position, substantially as described.

3. In an advertising cigar-cutter, a circular main casing, the upper half of which is of semi-circular contour, an upright shaft freely journaled in the bottom and top of said casing and provided with a small pinion about midway its length, a supplemental advertising casing, of complete circular form, fixed on the upper end of said shaft, arranged within and of about the same length as the semi-circular section of the main easing, a short horizontal shaft mounted in journal bearings on the bottom of the case and located near the upright shaft, an angular lever fixed thereon, one arm projecting out through the casin g and the other extending up by the side of the upright shaft, a toothed plate or flange on the upper end of said upright arm to engage with said pinion, a cutting blade or knife fixed on the outer end of said shaft, just inside the cigar aperture of the casing, and a retracting spring connected at one end to said upright lever-arm and at the other to the lower portion of the main casing, substantially as described.

4. In an advertising cigar-cutter, an outer circular case, the upper half being semi-circular only, a cap or cover fixed on the upper end of the case, an upright shaft loosely journaled at the bottom and cap of the casing and provided with a small fixed gear pinion, a supplemental circular casing fixed on said shaft, closed at the top and extending down to a plane just a little below the open space in the main case, a short horizontal shaft, G. mounted in journal bearings on the bottom of the casing and on opposite sides of the upright shaft, an angular lever, F., fixed on said horizontal shaft, having one arm extended out through an aperture in the lower portion of the case and another extending upward by the side of the upright shaft, a blade or knife fixed on the outer end of the horizontal shaft just within the casing and normally standing just at one side of an aperture or apertures in the lower case section constructed to receive the tips of cigars, and a retracting spring secured to the bottom of the casing and the upper end of the inner lever arm, substantially as described.

5. In an advertising cigar-cutter, an outer circular case, the upper half being semi-circular only, a cap or cover fixed on the upper end of the case, an upright shaft loosely j ournaled at the bottom and cap of the casing and provided with a small fixed gear pinion, a supplem ental circular casing fixed on said shaft, closed at the top and extending down to a plane just a little below the open space in the main case, a short horizontal shaft, G., mounted in journal bearings on the bottom of the casing and on opposite sides of the upright shaft, an angular lever, F., fixed on said horizontal shaft, having one arm extended out through an aperture in the lower portion of the case and another extending upward by, the side of 2 5 case-section constructed to receive the tips of c cigars, a retracting spring secured to the bottom of the casing and the upper end of the inner lever arm, and an elastic stop set on the case bottom underneath the outwardly projecting lever arm, substantially as described. 3 5

GEORGE WVILSON MELVILLE.

Witnesses:

I. A. HELMIOH, A. A. MURRAY. 

